MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - MAY 12: Jamal Murray #27 of the Denver Nuggets walks off the court after Game Four of the Western Conference Second Round Playoffs against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center on May 12, 2024 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Nuggets defeated the Timberwolves 115-107. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)
What happened to every coach LeBron James got fired?
Where are they now? LeBron James: Coach Killer edition.
LeBron James is one of the smartest and most influential players of all time, which is why it’s no surprise that coaches don’t last whenever he’s on the team. Of the nine head coaches he’s had over his 21-year career, only Tyronn Lue and Erik Spoelstra weren’t relieved of their coaching duties while James was on the team.
Here’s a look at all of the coaches James‘ had over his career — like David Blatt, Luke Walton, and Darvin Ham — and where they are today.
Paul Silas
Paul Silas was the first coach to experience the LeBron effect. He coached James during his early years with the Cleveland Cavaliers from 2003 to 2005.
Despite his efforts, Silas was let go in the middle of the 2004-2005 season after producing a 34-30 record. After Cleveland, Silas continued his coaching career with his last stint as the head coach of the Charlotte Bobcats. Over his two seasons, Silas’ record was 32-88. Sadly, he passed away in 2022.
Mike Brown
Mike Brown holds the crown as the longest-tenured coach of LeBron James’ career, leading the Cavaliers from 2005 to 2010. He was known for his defensive coaching style, which helped the Cavaliers achieve significant success, including a trip to the NBA Finals and five straight playoff appearances.
However, the lack of a championship led to his dismissal. Brown went on to have coaching stints with the Lakers and the Warriors before becoming the head coach of the Sacramento Kings in 2022, a position he still has to this day.
David Blatt
Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) stands with Cavaliers head coach David Blatt (R) against the Washington Wizards in the second quarter at Verizon Center. The Cavaliers won 121-115.
Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
David Blatt’s time with LeBron was brief and shocking. Hired in 2014, Blatt led the Cavaliers to the NBA Finals in his first season but was fired midway through the second season in favor of Tyronn Lue despite having a 67.5%-win percentage. Today, he serves as a consultant for the Arizona Wildcats, a position he’s had since 2023.
Luke Walton
Luke Walton had the tough task of being the head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers. As a team in the middle of a rebuild, when LeBron James joined the Lakers in 2018, expectations instantly changed.
Unfortunately, Walton couldn’t deliver, leading to his firing a year later. The disappointment of his first head coaching stint didn’t keep him away from the game for long though. He served as an assistant coach with the Kings for three years and is currently an assistant with the Cavaliers.
Frank Vogel
Despite bringing a championship to the Lakers in 2020, Frank Vogel was fired in 2022 after the Lakers’ disappointing season. As is the case with every James-led team, past success doesn’t guarantee job security. He’d get another chance to coach a super team in 2023 but was fired a season later after failing to lead the star-studded Phoenix Suns past the first round.
Darvin Ham
Darvin Ham is the latest coach to see his head coaching stint cut short. Hired in 2022, Ham was tasked to coach a team with championship aspirations. While he did lead the team to a conference finals appearance as the 7th seed in his first season, a disappointing end to the 2024 playoffs saw the Lakers move on from him despite having multiple years left on his contract.
